Hide and Q
When the enigmatic and powerful 'Q' entity disrupts the USS Enterprise's urgent rescue mission, Captain Picard and Commander Riker face a deadly game of cosmic stakes, challenging human resilience and the temptation of godlike power.
The USS Enterprise races toward the Quadra Sigma System to aid five hundred colonists injured by an underground explosion. Tension tightens as the cause hints at a methane-like gas, but the mission is violently interrupted when the shimmering, cosmic grid of the 'Q' entity materializes before them, halting the ship. 'Q' mocks humanity's fragility and demands the Enterprise abandon its urgent mission to play a game with him. As the bridge crew confronts this capricious godlike being, their weapons fail and they are transported to a harsh alien plain modeled after the Napoleonic era, where they face bizarre fanged soldiers in French uniforms wielding archaic muskets. The stakes escalate when Tasha Yar is trapped in 'Q's penalty box, vulnerable to permanent disappearance should any of the crew falter, forcing Riker and his team into a desperate survival trial. Meanwhile, Picard is isolated aboard the Enterprise, cut off from his crew and powerless to intervene.
Amid the chaos, Riker is offered the extraordinary and terrifying power of the 'Q'—the ability to bend reality, time, and space, a gift that threatens to corrupt or elevate him. He wrestles with the implications of this godlike authority, determined to resist its seductive allure and protect his friends. Back on the alien battlefield, Riker uses his newfound powers to save his team and repel the hostile forces, proving his resilience and loyalty. Meanwhile, Picard confronts 'Q' with Shakespearean wisdom, challenging the entity's cynical worldview and asserting humanity's potential for nobility and growth.
As the game unfolds, Riker navigates the intoxicating temptation to reshape reality for his comrades, granting heartfelt but complicated gifts that reveal the profound burden of such power. The crew grapples with their evolving relationships under this strain, highlighting themes of trust, sacrifice, and the human spirit's immutable core. 'Q' appears one final time, disguised as a somber friar, provoking philosophical debate on identity, faith, and the nature of existence, before vanishing in frustration.
Ultimately, the Enterprise crew resumes their rescue mission, with time having been suspended by 'Q', erasing the temporal disruption they suffered. Riker's ordeal leaves him changed but grounded, having faced the ultimate test of power and humanity. The episode closes on a note of awe and humility, with Captain Picard reflecting on the soul's essence as the true differentiator between humans and godlike beings. The interplay between cosmic omnipotence and human fallibility drives a thrilling exploration of ambition, loyalty, and the timeless quest for meaning in a vast and indifferent universe.
Events in This Episode
The narrative beats that drive the story
The USS Enterprise, a vessel of hope, surges towards the Quadra Sigma System, its crew a whirlwind of urgent preparation. Doctor Crusher orchestrates medical teams, burn units, and critical care, as Captain Picard's voice echoes with the grim count of five hundred colonists, thirty-eight children among them, caught in an underground explosion. Tension coils on the bridge; Commander Riker identifies a methane-like gas as the likely cause, but Counselor Troi's face contorts with alarm, sensing a familiar, chilling presence. A klaxon blares, lights flash, and the main viewer shimmers, revealing the cosmic, sparkling grid of the 'Q' entity, a force of nature that has haunted them before. 'Q' mocks humanity's fragility, dismissing their desperate rescue mission. He demands they abandon their purpose, insisting his "business" takes precedence, escalating his capricious game by transforming from a writhing snake to a Starfleet Admiral. With a wave of his hand, the bridge crew, save Picard, vanishes, reappearing on a harsh, twin-sunned alien plain, a bizarre Napoleonic battlefield. The stakes shatter when Tasha Yar, drawing her phaser, is instantly trapped in 'Q's "penalty box," a terrifying void where she faces permanent disappearance should any of her comrades falter. Picard, isolated aboard the Enterprise, is left powerless, his crew plunged into a desperate trial.
In the tense corridor of the USS Enterprise, Doctor Beverly Crusher commands the urgent preparation and deployment of specialized medical kits, emphasizing the inclusion of burn units to treat severe …
In the ship’s corridor, a tense and urgent atmosphere underscores the mounting crisis. Doctor Crusher oversees the rapid mobilization of medical supplies, emphasizing the need for specialized burn units and …
As the Enterprise crew races toward a critical rescue mission in the Quadra Sigma system, Commander Riker reports a methane-like gas as the likely cause of a devastating underground explosion. …
As the USS Enterprise nears the Quadra Sigma System on a critical rescue mission, an ominous cosmic grid—recognized as the manifestation of the omnipotent entity Q—abruptly halts the ship. The …
During a critical rescue mission, the USS Enterprise crew is abruptly confronted by the omnipotent entity Q, who halts their progress with an overwhelming shimmering cosmic grid. As tensions mount, …
Stranded on the scorching Quadra Sigma III plain, the Enterprise bridge crew discovers their phasers are useless, confirming 'Q's absolute dominion. 'Q', now a French Marshal, revels in their powerlessness, dismissing Picard's attempts to negotiate for the rescue mission. He mocks humanity's suffering, baiting Picard with his past failures at Farpoint, accusing him of a "closed mind." 'Q' then zeroes in on Commander Riker, intrigued by his loyalty and offering him an "impossible dream"—a gift beyond human comprehension. Riker, standing firm with his Captain, rejects 'Q's overtures, but 'Q' insists on a "deadly game" to truly know humanity. With a flick of his wrist, he makes the entire bridge crew, save Picard, vanish, leaving the Captain isolated and helpless. On the alien plain, the crew grapples with their new reality, a bizarre Napoleonic-era setting. 'Q' explains the game's rules: it will be "completely unfair," a test of survival with "something totally disastrous" to lose. Tasha Yar's impulsive move to draw her phaser results in a "game penalty," and she vanishes into the "penalty box." 'Q' chillingly reveals the box holds only one, meaning if another penalty is incurred, Tasha will be cast into "nothingness," her fate resting entirely on her friends' obedience. The weight of her imminent disappearance crushes the crew, forcing them into a desperate, high-stakes trial.
On the Enterprise bridge, Tasha Yar and Worf realize their phasers have become completely ineffective against the menacing alien snake head, emphasizing their vulnerability under Q’s omnipotent control. As Picard …
On the Enterprise bridge, Q asserts his omnipotent control by rendering the crew’s phasers useless against an alien threat and mocking their vulnerability. When Picard demands Q cease his interference …
On the USS Enterprise bridge, Captain Picard confronts the omnipotent Q, who taunts the crew by assuming the mantle of a Starfleet admiral and mocking humanity’s vulnerabilities. Despite the escalating …
On the USS Enterprise bridge, as the crew struggles with disabled weapons and an imminent threat, Captain Picard confronts the omnipotent Q, who mockingly appears as a Starfleet admiral. Despite …
Stranded abruptly on a harsh, sun-scorched alien plain beneath twin suns, the USS Enterprise bridge crew confronts their disorientation and vulnerability as their technological advantages vanish. Clad in anachronistic Napoleonic …
On the harsh, twin-sunned alien plain of Quadra Sigma III, the omnipotent Q, clad in a Napoleonic French Marshal’s uniform, abruptly imposes a cruel, rigged survival game on Riker and …
On the harsh twin-sunned plain of Quadra Sigma III, the Enterprise crew confronts Q's brutal cosmic game. Clad in a Napoleonic marshal's guise, Q proposes a deadly trial where survival …
Back on the Enterprise, Captain Picard discovers himself utterly cut off, turbolifts unresponsive, computer silent, his ship frozen in amber. He is isolated, powerless. Suddenly, Tasha Yar's voice pierces the silence; she appears as a spectral presence, a projection from 'Q's "penalty box," her usual strength cracking under the strain. She reveals the terrifying truth: one more penalty, from anyone, and she will be gone forever. Picard, deeply concerned, attempts to comfort her, even permitting "tears" as a new ship's standing order. 'Q' materializes in Picard's command chair, mocking his "consorting with lower rank females" and revealing his true intent: the Enterprise is helpless, stuck while its first officer, Riker, is tested for the "greatest gift the 'Q' can offer." Picard, seizing the moment, wagers his command against 'Q's permanent departure from humanity's path, a gamble 'Q' readily accepts, confident Riker will succumb to the irresistible offer. Meanwhile, on the alien plain, Worf, the seasoned warrior, scouts the distant ridges. He discovers a bivouac of "Bonapartist soldiers" whose uniforms hide fearsome, fanged, animalistic features. These are no ordinary foes; their "muskets" fire powerful energy blasts, not lead balls. As the snarling, growling forces advance, Riker realizes their phasers are useless. 'Q', disguised as Data, appears, urging Riker to use the power he has been given—the power of the 'Q'—to save his friends. With little choice, Riker makes a sweeping gesture, and his crew vanishes in blinding flashes, transported back to safety, leaving Riker alone, grappling with the immense, terrifying power now coursing through him.
Cut off from all communications and ship systems, Captain Picard finds himself isolated and powerless on the immobilized Enterprise bridge. In this unnerving silence, Tasha Yar appears as a strained …
Stranded on an immobilized Enterprise, Captain Picard confronts the eerie spectral apparition of Tasha Yar, who reveals her dire fate in Q's penalty box—one more infraction will erase her existence. …
Isolated on a frozen USS Enterprise immobilized by Q’s omnipotent will, Captain Picard confronts the cruel cosmic trickster who mocks humanity’s fragility and announces a high-stakes wager. Q reveals that …
The Enterprise bridge jolts back to life, displays flickering, ambient sounds returning. Tasha Yar, still reeling from the "penalty box," watches as Picard emerges, realizing 'Q' had merely suspended time, the ship's journey uninterrupted. The bridge crew reappears, disoriented but unharmed, all except Commander Riker. A wave of concern washes over them; Geordi describes the "animal things in uniform," while Data, ever analytical, finds them "aesthetically displeasing." Picard, however, focuses on Riker's absence, troubled by 'Q's specific interest in his first officer, yet confident in Riker's physical safety. On the desolate desert, Riker sits alone, a deep, cosmic laugh bubbling forth. 'Q' appears, mirroring Riker's Starfleet uniform, demanding to share the joke. Riker, now radiating a newfound confidence, boldly calls 'Q' a "silly son of a bitch," accusing the omnipotent being of desperately needing something from humanity. 'Q', stung, reveals the "Q Continuum" observed humanity's unique "compulsion to grow," a force that could one day surpass even them. They selected Riker to join them, to bring this "human need and hunger" into their existence. Riker, however, vehemently rejects the offer, declaring he doesn't even like 'Q'. In a flash, 'Q' vanishes, only to reappear the entire bridge crew, including Wesley, back on the battlefield, immediately under attack by the bayonet-wielding animal soldiers. Worf is slashed, and Wesley is skewered, prompting Riker's primal scream of "NO! DAMN IT, DAMN IT TO HELL!" He unleashes his newfound 'Q' power, manifesting a metallic grid that blocks the advancing forces. Then, with a furious, stronger gesture, he fills the scene with blinding light, instantly transporting Wesley and Worf back to the Enterprise, healed and whole. Picard stares, disbelieving, as Riker's formidable expression reveals the terrifying extent of his omnipotence.
The Enterprise orbits Quadra Sigma III, the disaster planet a distant, urgent beacon, but Captain Picard's log entry reveals a deeper crisis: First Officer Riker, grappling with the 'Q' power, needs help as desperately as the colonists. Riker, visibly strained, avoids eye contact with his crew, who, in turn, are uncertain how to approach him. In Picard's Ready Room, the Captain confronts Riker, his frustration bleeding through forced diplomacy. Picard challenges Riker's ability to resist the seductive allure of godlike power, emphasizing its corrupting influence, but Riker, with unwavering conviction, gives his word he will not succumb. The rescue mission proceeds; Data, with his immense strength, clears a jammed doorway, revealing a dozen huddled survivors. But the grim reality of the disaster hits hard when Data lifts the limp body of a dead child. Beverly Crusher's choked lament, "If we'd only gotten here a little sooner," underscores the tragedy. Data, ever logical, suggests Riker use his 'Q' power to revive the child, pushing Riker to a moment of truth. Visibly fighting his emotions, Riker utters a firm, agonizing "No!" Back on the bridge, Riker's return is marked by a subtle shift in his bearing—a new force, a hint of 'Q'-like arrogance. He insists on an immediate staff meeting, his presence commanding, almost demanding. Counselor Troi, sensing the immense, frightening power and terrible anger coiling within him, watches Riker with profound apprehension, a silent warning of the dangerous path he now treads.
As enemy soldiers in antiquated French-style muskets advance across the desert plain of Quadra Sigma III, Geordi struggles to maintain visual contact while analyzing their formation and armament. Riker, sensing …
On the barren plain of Quadra Sigma III, the crew of the Enterprise confronts a mounting threat as primitive yet brutal enemy soldiers close in. Amidst rising tension, the figure …
As the USS Enterprise's bridge systems abruptly reactivate, Captain Picard returns to command amid a charged silence. The crew, disoriented but unharmed, reappears except for Commander Riker, whose absence sharpens …
The Enterprise bridge reactivates with the crew reappearing disoriented after a temporal suspension orchestrated by the omnipotent Q. Notably, Commander Riker is absent, heightening concern and mystery. Geordi reports a …
On the USS Enterprise's bridge, Captain Picard and the crew awaken from a suspended time state imposed by Q, only to realize Commander Riker is missing. As systems hum steadily, …
Riker, brooding on the bridge, asserts his newfound authority, silencing Picard with a gesture and addressing him by his first name, a clear sign of his transformation. He attempts to reassure the wary crew that he is not a "monster," despite his "unusual powers," but Picard immediately counters, reminding him that "power corrupts." Riker, still haunted by the dead child he couldn't save, defends his use of 'Q' power to save the crew from 'Q's fabricated danger, asserting humanity's "quality of growth" which 'Q' admires, or fears. Suddenly, 'Q' materializes, disguised as a somber friar, a master manipulator attempting to provoke Riker into demonstrating his "affection" for his friends by granting them their deepest desires. Picard, seeing an opportunity for Riker to learn the profound burden of such power, surprisingly authorizes and supports Riker's attempt to bestow gifts. Riker first transforms Wesley into an adult Starfleet officer, fulfilling his ambition. But Wesley, along with Data, who refuses to become human, and Geordi, who rejects restored sight, all decline Riker's 'Q'-granted "perfection," choosing authenticity and their own journey over instant gratification. Worf's "gift"—a Klingon warrioress—backfires spectacularly, highlighting the unintended consequences and the crew's unwavering commitment to their true selves. Humiliated, Riker admits his foolishness, finally understanding the profound implications of omnipotence. Picard, seizing the moment, declares 'Q's game over, reminding the entity of his wager and his failure to corrupt a human. With a final, frustrated flash, 'Q' vanishes. The bridge snaps back to normal, time reset, Wesley a boy again, Worf alone, the ordeal erased from the timeline. Picard, with profound humility, reflects on humanity's true distinguishing characteristic: the "possession of a soul," a quality 'Q' could never grasp. The Enterprise, grounded once more, resumes its urgent rescue mission, Riker forever changed but anchored by his ultimate test of power and humanity.
In the sprawling desert under twin suns, Riker confronts the omnipotent Q, who mockingly dons Riker’s uniform to emphasize his transformative offer. Through a charged dialogue, Q reveals the vastness …
In the harsh desert under twin suns, Riker confronts Q’s enigmatic offer to join the omnipotent Continuum, challenging the cosmic entity with blunt defiance. When Q abruptly disappears, the Enterprise …
Wesley and Worf reemerge on the bridge, mysteriously healed from their grievous wounds, signaling the invisible yet omnipotent intervention of Q. Captain Picard, confronted with the shimmering metallic grid and …
As Wesley and Worf mysteriously reappear fully healed, the stark reality of 'Q's omnipotence becomes undeniable to the crew. Picard's gaze lingers on Riker, whose face now bears a formidable, …
The USS Enterprise arrives in orbit above the devastated planet Quadra Sigma III, its crew poised for an urgent rescue mission. Captain Picard records a somber captain's log, emphasizing the …
In the tense stillness of the Enterprise bridge, Riker’s visible emotional withdrawal marks a stark contrast to the urgent external crisis unfolding. The crew senses his uncharacteristic silence and burden, …
In the Captain's Ready Room, Riker faces the heavy weight of the godlike power granted by Q. Picard, with anger and urgency, challenges Riker’s confidence in resisting temptation, emphasizing the …
In the tense confines of the Captain's Ready Room, Picard confronts Riker with a mixture of anger and concern over the godlike powers Q has offered him. Their charged exchange …
The Away Reserve Team, guided by Data's analytical precision and physical strength, navigates a treacherous, flood-ravaged corridor to reach a group of survivors huddled beyond a jammed door. Data forcibly …
The Away Reserve Team, led by Data, breaches a devastated passage on Quadrant Sigma III to find a dozen survivors clinging to life amid the ruin. Beverly tends to an …
In the devastated corridors of Quadra Sigma III, the Away Team, led by Data's clinical precision, discovers a small group of survivors trapped by the disaster. Geordi’s urgent detection of …
In the devastated corridors of Quadra Sigma III, the Enterprise Away Team discovers a handful of surviving victims amidst the ruins, but their hope is crushed when a trapped child's …
Returning from his harrowing encounter with Q and carrying an unsettling aura of power and arrogance, Riker demands an immediate meeting with Captain Picard and the senior staff. His demeanor …
On the Enterprise bridge, Riker returns from his encounter with Q carrying an unsettling new aura of power and arrogance that unsettles the crew. He insists on an immediate meeting …
On the Enterprise bridge, Riker asserts command with a newfound confidence shaped by his acquisition of Q-like powers, openly addressing Picard by his first name and attempting to reassure the …
On the Enterprise’s main bridge, Riker wrestles publicly with the immense powers granted by Q, who reappears disguised as a friar to provoke him into wielding his godlike abilities over …
Empowered by Q's omnipotence, Riker gathers his crew on the bridge to bestow transformative gifts reflecting their deepest desires—a premature adulthood for Wesley, the gift of humanity for Data, restored …
Riker, newly endowed with godlike powers by Q, attempts to fulfill his crewmates' deepest desires to prove his benevolence and mastery over these abilities. Despite his good intentions, each gift …
On the Enterprise bridge, Captain Picard confronts Q’s elaborate cosmic manipulation centered on Riker’s newly bestowed godlike powers. As Riker tries granting the crew their deepest desires, each gift is …
On the Enterprise bridge, Riker wrestles with the heavy burden of godlike powers granted by Q, seeking to prove he remains true to himself despite temptation. Under Picard's watchful eye, …